The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-05-20
The Usar's Prisons.
rtiE GREAT GATCHINA FORTRESS IN
WHICH lie HIDES IN TERROR.

"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" is
the reflection which springs to ones
mind on hearing the rumors as to at
tempts on the czar's life in his rural re-
treat at Gatchina. The country house
inhabitated by the autocrat OF all the
Russias is nothing more nor less than a
fortress surrounded by moats, with a
strong garrison, and situated in the
midst of an immense camp, in which
countless detachments of soldiers,
horse, foot, artillery, and even engi-
neers, are quartered. Yet even here
the life of the sovereign is exposed to
various perils. chief among which is
the notorious disaffection of portions
of his vast army. The time was when
the czar could at least reckon on the
fidelity of his troops, and on the blind
and unreasoning devotion of the liber-
ated serfs. Now all is changed. 1t is
ACKNOWLEDGED that the revolutionary
movement has spread with appalling
and significant rapidity, even to class
es which had always been regarded as
worthy.
Meanwhile, however, Alexandra Ill
has no alternative bat to make the
best of the situation. Picked soldiers
guard him day and night at Gatchina,
and the striotest discipline prevails in
the fortress castle. A writer who a
short time ago had the rare privilege
of an introduction to the presence of
the czarina, gives a graphic account of
his visit, and of the precautions taken
to prevent any mishap. Travelling
from st. Petersburg to Gatchina in
company with General Ignatieff and
General Baumgarten, one of the en-
perors aidesde. camp, he noticed all
along the route small deJachments of
engineers encamped in the open air at
short intervals from each other. Cos
sacks, mounted on their small horses,
galloped about in every direction. The
party were fetched at the station by
one of the imperial carriages, which
started off at full speed, and after cross
ing a bridge, strongly guarded, arrived
at huge gateway, at which the writer
and his companions had to show their
papers. Thence they were conducted
TO wing of the palace, where the
same ceremonial was gone through,
after which they were taken through a
perfect labyrinth of passages and stair
cases to rooms reserved for them. The
writer was asked if he would have
luncheon or tea, and was then left to
himself until the hour appointed for
his audience. At noon General Baum
garten came to fetch him.
On his way to the central building
he saw the steps crowded with sentries,
who in turn presented arms with such
a din that he shrewdly suspected that
the noise was intended to warn their
comrades further on of the arrival of
stranger. Next large hall, in which
100 soldiers of the guard were on duty,
was traversed At the further end the
visitor had again to exhibit his papers,
and after ascending a magnificent
staircase and crossing hall in which
gigantic Moor in superb costume,
and two huge Ticherkesses armed to
the teeth with dirks and pistols were
stationed, he was introduced by a man
servant into small but elegant draw
ing room, whence he passed under the
conduct of one of the gentlemen on
service, into the empress reception
room. After half an hours conversa-
ton, in the course of which her ma
jesty remarked that there were some
very impious men in Russia, the writer
withdrew, but ere he took leave of
General Baumgartep, the latter, refer.
ring to the frankness with which he
had spoken, told him that no Russian
would have dared to give advice to the
czarina, jokingly adding: "Take care!
You may be sent to Siberia" What
can be more characteristic than this
rapprochement of the aide-de-camp's
grim jest about Siberia and the pre-
cautions taken by the sovereign TO
avert all danger from himself and his
family.-Loradon Transcript